Throwing card game

ABSTRACT

A kit and method for a game with a target board and projectile game cards. The game may comprise projectile game cards, a target board, and other items. The target board may be made of a material that can be at least partially penetrated by the projectile game cards. The cards may be similar to playing cards or credit cards. An instruction manual on how on rules of play may be included. The cards are tossed at the board to strike and penetrate specific targets on the board surface. Points may be granted for proximity to the specific target on the board, the order which the cards are thrown or the number of times the game player strikes a target.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending applicationSer. No. 13/939,297 entitled “Throwing Card Game” filed Jul. 11, 2013 bythe same inventor, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. provisionalpatent application 61/701,561 filed Sep. 14, 2012, both of which areincluded by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Target games have long been known, for example, to users of earlythrowing weapons, including the games of archery and darts. Focus andskill are used to develop techniques of being able to consistently hit atarget with accuracy. Most target games that involve partiallypenetrating the surface of a target include projectiles that are pointyand sharp, such as arrows or darts. The boards that are used in thesegames are often made by layering different partially permeable materialsonto a base and may include a metal frame and a metal mesh to defineplaying areas. These boards may be complex to construct and are bulkyand heavy. Some new dart game systems (U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,204) haverecently been developed which use a dart with a flat magnet at the frontend rather than a sharp point. The board is made of materials thatattract the magnet and the dart is thrown at the board and sticks to thesurface due to the magnetic attraction. These games are safer thanconventional dart games, however, the board for this game is even morecomplex than conventional boards, requiring multiple layers of differentmaterials, including circuitry to create a magnetized region on theboard. What is needed in the art is a target game which is safe and doesnot require a complex or bulky target board or pointed and sharpprojectiles.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, athrowing game is disclosed. The game has a target and a plurality ofprojectile cards having edges for penetrating at least a portion of thetarget with an edge.

According to another aspect, the present invention may include a methodfor playing a throwing card game. The method includes setting a throwingspot, setting a target an agreed upon distance from the throwing spot,wherein the target has designated areas, throwing a plurality ofprojectile cards having edges from the throwing spot to the target forpenetrating at least a portion of the target with an edge of a card, anddetermining a winner of the game by computing the number of cardshitting designated areas on the target.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objectives and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an angled front view of one embodiment of the game targettogether with a tossed card in flight traveling toward the target.

FIG. 2 is an angled front view of another embodiment of the game target.

FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the game target having ashape in relief on a portion of its front surface.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the game target havingother target shapes.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a moveable target.

FIG. 6 shows a Side angle of a spike board embodiment.

DESCRIPTION Generality of Invention

This application should be read in the most general possible form. Thisincludes, without limitation, the following:

References to specific techniques include alternative and more generaltechniques, especially when discussing aspects of the invention, or howthe invention might be made or used.

References to “preferred” techniques generally mean that the inventorcontemplates using those techniques, and thinks they are best for theintended application. This does not exclude other techniques for theinvention, and does not mean that those techniques are necessarilyessential or would be preferred in all circumstances.

References to contemplated causes and effects for some implementationsdo not preclude other causes or effects that might occur in otherimplementations.

References to reasons for using particular techniques do not precludeother reasons or techniques, even if completely contrary, wherecircumstances would indicate that the stated reasons or techniques arenot as applicable.

Furthermore, the invention is in no way limited to the specifics of anyparticular embodiments and examples disclosed herein. Many othervariations are possible which remain within the content, scope andspirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear tothose skilled in the art after perusal of this application.

Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below tosimplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examplesand are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosuremay repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples.This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and doesnot in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodimentsand/or configurations discussed.

Read this application with the following terms and phrases in their mostgeneral form. The general meaning of each of these terms or phrases isillustrative, not in any way limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While particular implementations and applications of the presentdisclosure have been illustrated and described, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure is not limited to the precise constructionand compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications,changes, and variations can be apparent from the foregoing descriptionswithout departing from the spirit and scope of an invention as definedin the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, which is a gamethat includes a target 10 and a game piece 11. The game piece 11 isshown as a tossed card in flight in positions a and b traveling towardthe target. The tossed card is then shown in position c with an edge 12at least partially embedded into the target. The target 10 includes oneor more target areas 1, 2, 3, and 4. These target areas may define anorder of play or a specific hierarchy of play depending on the game ofchoice. Alternatively, the target areas may designate a number of pointsthat is achieved in order to win the game.

The target is typically made of a material that is at least partiallypermeable to at least a portion of the game piece such that a portion ofa game piece can penetrate the surface to which the game pieces areaimed. This material may be, for example, Styrofoam® or any othermaterial that would be partially permeable by a portion of the gamepiece. The target material should be sufficiently brittle and porous asto allow the edge of the card 12 to at least partially penetrate uponstriking the target. In one embodiment of the game, the consistency ofthe target should be consistent across its entire target surface, forexample, the same type of foam.

Alternatively, the target may have different areas, each of which mayhave a different composition and permeability. Another alternativetarget may have a variety of modular parts which can be placed atdifferent areas of the target depending on the game desired. Yet anotheralternative target may include some parts of the target that prevent thethrowing card from penetrating, thereby further increasing thedifficulty of the game.

The target may be affixed on a vertical surface, such as a wall.Alternatively, the target may suspended in a way that allows forspinning or, it may be attached to a base that provides vibration tofurther increase the complexity of the game. In either scenario, thetarget is typically 4 placed an agreed upon distance from an agreed uponthrowing spot over which the thrower may not step. Alternatively,different players may each have different throwing spots.

The game may further include a set of instructions for setting up thetarget or parts of targets in a frame, playing techniques, and rules fora game or multiple games. The projectile game cards should generally beof a sufficient size, weight, and thickness to allow an edge to at leastpartially penetrating the surface of the target 10 when thrown towardsit at a sufficient speed and velocity. The projectile game cards shouldalso generally be of a suitable size to be held in a player's hand. Thecard may typically be made of plastic or other lightweight material, forexample, paper or cardboard, or paper or cardboard that has been coatedwith plastic. It has been found that a card of substantially 30 mmthickness may be thrown at typical Styrofoam® target and at leastpartially embed therein. The card may either be perforated, solid, orhave a single hole therethrough. The single hole through the card may beused to insert a thrower's finger to thereby increase the spinning speedprovided to the card. The projectile game cards may typically be of asimilar in size and weight than that of standard playing cards, hotelroom keys, or credit cards. However, it should be noted that the gamecards may be of varying sizes, shapes, and thicknesses and may also beconstructed of a variety of materials.

A further embodiment of a set of cards for the game may include cardshaving different characteristics (density, shape, thickness, or weight)such that some cards are easier to throw than others to providedifferent levels of play.

The projectile game cards may be collectable cards or cards that arecustom made with specific attributes (e.g. a picture). The cards mayalso include RFID or QR codes or bar codes to enable features through aweb site or other media.

A further embodiment of the game may include a card reader/writer devicefor keeping statistics, points, or any other data pertaining to theplayers and the game.

A still further embodiment of the game may include a throwing device forprojecting the cards towards the target. The throwing device mayalternatively be combined with the card reader/writer device.

In play, the aim of the game is to throw the card at the target and tohave the card partially penetrate the surface of the target and remainthere until the player removes it at the end of play. Each player maytake turns throwing a single card or a plurality of cards. The number ofcards thrown at a given turn can be based on age or may be determinedrandomly at each turn using, for example, dice. When more than one cardis used in a turn, they can be thrown all at the same time with theintent that as many as possible stick to the target, or they can bethrown one after another. An embodiment may be a game in which theplayers try to hit the numbered areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 in sequence withthe final target being the center area 5. Alternatively, the player mayneed to strike the numbered targets first and then once that iscompleted in sequence, strike the center area, or the opposite may betrue in which the players must start of by successfully striking thecenter area first.

FIG. 2 illustrates an angled front view of another embodiment of thegame target 20. This game target 20 includes a central target area 22and two outer target areas 24 and 26, respectively. In this embodimentof the game, a player may try to hit the central target area and wouldreceive points for either hitting the central target or hitting one ofthe outer target areas whereby a higher level of points would resultfrom hitting the central target and fewer points for the outer targetareas, with the outermost target area providing the least number ofpoints because 6 it is furthest from the central target. The game mayalso include a game order whereby a player must hit one specific targetarea first before progressing to the next area on a hierarchical basis.

In one embodiment of play, each player may take turns, which may furtherinclude each player tossing one card each or each player tossing aplurality of cards. The cards may be tossed overhand, underhand, with aflick of the wrist, or any other technique.

FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention and shows a gametarget 30 having an animal shape 32 defined thereon which further may berecessed on the surface of the game target or may be projected in relieftherefrom. A possible game for this embodiment may include eitherdifferent point values, or a defined order of play, depending on aspecific area on the target 32 that a projectile game card strikes.Alternatively, a player must hit the tail first, then the head, and soon. Furthermore, a specific area may have a higher point value such thatthe tail may be the highest point value and the head or body the lowest.

Alternative embodiments of targets may include figures of people,different logos, or playing cards as targets for the target board. Atarget board with a “Playing Cards Target” would enable the games ofblackjack or poker to be used for game play. In some embodiments,players would aim at certain playing cards on the target board to createa hand. For example, for the game of blackjack, players would try toobtain the best hand by aiming for certain playing cards on the targetboard such that their hand adds up to 21, without going over 21.

Another embodiment of play may be included in a rule book which mayinclude many alternative directions on how to play the game. Forexample, a recommended throwing distance, and rules for different gamesthat can be played with the projectile throwing cards. One example 7 ofa game that can be played is called “Around the World”. In this game,players are required to hit each number on the target board in order(ascending or descending) ending with the star. Numbers hit out of orderdo not count. The first player to complete Around the World wins.

Another game is “Death Star.” In this game, players take turns throwingone card at a time, trying to hit the star on the target board. Once aplayer hits the star, he/she is safe. The last player remaining who hasnot hit the star loses. In some games, different color cards can beworth different point values, which can be added to the point values hiton the target board by the cards. Individual cards can also havespecific rules that pertain to game play.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of another embodiment of the game target 400.This embodiment may include different parts 401, 402, 403, 404, and 405each of which may have a different composition with differentcharacteristics (for example, each target area may have a differentdensity and/or permeability). The parts may be permanently positioned,or alternatively, be moveable to alter the target when needed. One ormore of the parts may also be solid such that the card cannot penetratethat section.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a moveable target. In this embodiment, thetarget may be attached to a post 500. The post 500 may be rigid, or itmay be flexible so has to make the card penetration in the target moredifficult. The post 500 may have a base 501 that comprises a motor togenerate oscillations or vibrations for increasing the game'sdifficulty. Alternatively, the post and base may be removed and thetarget may be hung so that it may move side to side or twirl to furtherincrease the difficulty of successfully hitting the target.

FIG. 6 shows a side angle of a spike board embodiment 600. In FIG. 6, aseries of elongated members (“fingers”) 610 formed from semi-rigidmaterial are positioned extending from the surface of a game target. Theelongated members may be formed from plastic, rubberized compounds,fabric and the like. Certain embodiments may use different color fingersto indicate different target areas. Moreover, different densities offingers may be employed to create different gaming affects. For exampleand without limitation, a premium area will have a lower density offingers creating a target that is harder to stick to than a higherdensity area. In operation, a player throws a card 612 which is capturedby the fingers. Games similar to those described herein may beeffectuated by users. Additional elements may include spinning portionsof targets, the addition of buckets along with targets and netting tocatch cards.

Certain embodiments are included in the attached appendix which isincorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

The game may further be implemented in software using a Wii® like or anytype of smart-gaming system that includes a motion detector. It shouldbe noted by a person of ordinary skill in the art that otherconfigurations of the game target, including different target types,game spaces, and target shapes target textures, target and card colors,card textures, and card shapes may be also be provided and wouldaccordingly, also be included within the scope of the present invention.Furthermore additional game pieces, such as dice, time pieces, a rulebook, and score sheets may also be used without departing from the scopeof the present invention.

The above illustration provides many different embodiments orembodiments for implementing different features of the invention.Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to helpclarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and arenot intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construedbroadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a target, said target including a plurality of flexible members extending from a surface of the target, and a plurality of projectile cards having edges for penetrating at least a portion of the flexible members with an edge.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein the target has designated areas for aiming the cards thereto.
 3. The game of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the target is permeable material. 